Title

Literary Features, Authorship and Date

Contents and Theme: Kingship and Covenant

2
Samuel depicts David as a true (though imperfect) representative
of the ideal theocratic king. David was initially acclaimed
king at Hebron by the tribe of Judah (chs. 1 - 4), and subsequently
was accepted by the remaining tribes after the murder of
Ish-Bosheth, one of Saul's surviving sons (5:1-5). David's
leadership was decisive and effective. He captured Jerusalem
from the Jebusites and made it his royal city and residence
(5:6-13). Shortly afterward he brought the ark of the Lord
from the house of Abinadab to Jerusalem, publicly acknowledging
the Lord's kingship and rule over himself and the nation
(ch. 6; Ps 132:3-5).

Under David's rule the Lord caused the nation to prosper,
to defeat its enemies and, in fulfillment of his promise
(see Ge 15:18), to extend its borders from Egypt to the
Euphrates (ch. 8). David wanted to build a temple for the
Lord -- as his royal house, as a place for his throne (the
ark) and as a place for Israel to worship him. But the prophet
Nathan told David that he was not to build the Lord a house
(temple); rather, the Lord would build David a house (dynasty).
Ch. 7 announces the Lord's promise that this Davidic dynasty
would endure forever. This climactic chapter also describes
the establishment of the Davidic covenant (see notes on
7:1-29,11,16; Ps 89:30-37). Later the prophets make clear
that a descendant of David who sits on David's throne will
perfectly fulfill the role of the theocratic king. He will
complete the redemption of God's people (see Isa 9:6-7; 11:1-16; Jer 23:5-6; 30:8-9; 33:14-16; Eze 34:23-24; 37:24-25),
thus enabling them to achieve the promised victory with him (Ro 16:20).

After the description of David's rule in its glory and
success, chs. 10 - 20 depict the darker side of his reign
and describe David's weaknesses and failures. Even though
David remained a king after God's own heart because he was
willing to acknowledge his sin and repent (12:13), he nevertheless
fell far short of the theocratic ideal and suffered the
disciplinary results of his disobedience (12:10-12). His
sin with Bathsheba (chs. 11 - 12) and his leniency both with
the wickedness of his sons (13:12-39; 21; 14:1,33; 19:4-6)
and with the insubordination of Joab (3:28-39; 20:10,23)
led to intrigue, violence and bloodshed within his own family
and the nation. It eventually drove him from Jerusalem at
the time of Absalom's rebellion. Nonetheless the Lord was
gracious to David, and his reign became a standard by which
the reigns of later kings were measured (see 2Ki 18:3; 22:2).

The book ends with David's own words of praise to God,
who had delivered him from all his enemies (22:31-51), and
with words of expectation for the fulfillment of God's promise
that a king will come from the house of David and rule "over
men in righteousness" (23:3-5). These songs echo many of
the themes of Hannah's song (1Sa 2:1-10), and together they
frame (and interpret) the basic narrative.